Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-02-20

IN. o. Picayune.]


Within a period Of five years the
Christian Woman Exchange has paid
out 70 is consignors the magnificent
gum Of 81 ,454.60. An institution, or
rather a business Arm Of the propFie-
torsm the Exchange, managed entirely
81 women, supported entirely by the
subscription fees Of It's members, and
the ten per cent. commission exacted
from ell sales, organized with the sole
desire 20 help women 10 earn their own
living. Is an institution for which too
much cannot be said. The Woman's
Exchange has q varying list Of sub
ecribefs. This year about 300 names
are enrolled At an annual fee 81 s. per
name The eonsign0rs number $50.
These are women and young girls. liv-.
fng. Il might almost be said, ia all parts
n the world, and their work II sold at
he Exchange and shipped, not only
81 over America, but to Europe Is well.
A lady living in New Orleans furnishes
Yeast cakes 70 the Exchange. These
yeast cakes are now being shipped lit
orally from Maine 70 Mexico, from
Idaho to Florida, and the maker Of
them Is enabled by their sale TO support
herself IN comparative comfort.
When the Exchange was opened
there was imperative need for some
oreanized method Of assisting women
and families In reduced circumstances.
From absolute starvation, by this
means hundreds OF women have be-
come self-supporting. One Of the first
cOnsignors Of the Exchange was a
widow lady with a house full of little
children, who, as venture, borrowed
the ingredients, so poor she was, 20
make plate Of cakes, which, folded in
. white napkin, she took 70 the tx
change for sale. The cakes we're deli
ci0ns and OF q peculiar make, charac-
seTistic Of the south; they sold readily,
and this lady now Is one Of the most
prosperous cake bakers connected with
the Exchange. She earns q fair amount
Of money, and her dainty wares are In
demand Tor parties, dinners, high teas
and reception days.
The history Of the champion bread
maker Of the Exchange Is even more
remarkable. When this lady made her
first bread for sale, she was cooking on
4 small furnace, her stove having long
since been sold ~ an expensive luxury.
Her pan Of bread she baked &C n neigh
boris. II sold as soon IS put in the
Exchange. and 50 rapidly did her trade
increase that at the end Of four months
she found herself able 10 buy a fine
cooking stove. This bread maker was
formerly a wealthy and brilliant wo-
man, 1.-THE daughter OF former Italian
consul) and in her youth had Travelled
extensively and been the recipient Of
al 49, ks,,..a Y.,,,9 ro.1 ont ~ fha shrine
Of wealth. culture and station. When
she became bread baker for the Ex-
change she was d widow with one sick
daughter. In \ short period Of time
this ladv earned enough money to have
her chlId treated by physicians, and
last year she removed 20 New York,
whore, from being bread maker for
the Womans Exchange, she became
3 teacher OF languages, and Is now
supporting herself IN comparative
comfort.
An ambitious young girl. the daugh.
ter Of large family. enrolled herself
a. a consignor Of the Exchange, ready
70 take orders in plain sewing. Her
income from this source averages 500
= year, which she has expended in ecin-
eating herself, In taking art lessons and
In otherwise fitting herself 70 be always
Independent.
A touching instance Of the straits to
which lovely and accomplished women,
reared IN wealth, have been reduced
and how they have been benefited by
this Exchange, is furnished in the case
Of a young lady, the sole support OF a
family OF six, and who offered her ar
tlstic handiwork In the art department.
For a long time the income OF this fam
hy was only 81 u week. startling
jump from Sl00, 900 a yeAr--but her
beautiful hand-painted menus, favors
and souvenirs have attracted TO her a
steady run OF custom, and orders for
her exquisite work come even from
New York, the art center Of the eoun-
try.
The deaf and dumb woman who
makes the most Of the Mexican drawn
work sold at the Exchange receives for
Der sales about $600 q year.
Instances could be multiplied many
times over OF the good the Exchange
has done and Is doing. IL has helped
many women 70 be self-supporting
aud pays wages, and gives employment
within its doors TO no less than thirty
young girls Ii has developed the in
dustries OF cooking aud retreshment-
serving Many ladies order their re-
treshments for large entertainments
through the Exchange, also their favors
and menus. their children's clothing
and their own underwear. IL has
helped all classes Of women. Even the
Choctaw Indians In the black swamp
regions, in the heart Of the pine for,
ests, contribute to the art department
beautiful Indian baskets OF scented
grSsses and colared wicker, and find
ready sale for all their wares. The wo.
man florist and gardener, the artist and
cook, the seamstress aud embroiderer
all find in the Exchange a depot Tor ths
sale Of their work.